Notes

Activity Level

Tailor Made

For over 40 years, Gil Travel has helped families just like yours strengthen their ties to Judaism and make cherished memories with personalized Bar & Bat Mitzvah Israel tours. Relax, and let us take care of the details! Work with our specialized travel agents who send over 40,000 people to Israel each year. We have the experience and insight to plan every aspect of your celebration.

Your family can climb Masada, take a dip in the Dead Sea, shop and feel the energy of Jerusalem in Mahane Yehuda market, plant a family tree at Neot Kedumim, explore the Palmach Museum to learn of the elite fighting force of the Haganah who fought for the state of Israel, volunteer with an organization in need, enjoy a celebratory lunch in the ancient coastal city of Caesarea, visit some Start-Up Nation stops, or have a meaningful moment at the Western Wall. With your personalized tour, your choice of experiences are endless!

*Please note that the itinerary you can view on this page is an example of one we designed. Think of it as a starting off point!

Gil Travel will go to all lengths possible to make your Bar/Bat Mitzvah Israel trip a special, meaningful and memorable experience!

Walk through the Mahane Yehuda and see how young artists turns the closed street into a gallery of famous faces.

Return to Dan Panorama for the evening.

Overnight:Jerusalem

Day

4

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Scavenger hunt, Sound and light show

9:45AM - Family Scavenger Hunt in Jerusalem, Wandering from the Montefiore Windmill through the winding alleys of Yemin, you will learn the story of a frontier neighborhood that became one of Jerusalem’s most beautiful neighborhood.

9:00pm - Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David inside the Jaffa Gate.

Overnight at Dan Panorama.

Overnight:Jerusalem

Day

5

Monday, June 25, 2018

Rabbi Meeting, Gush Etzion, Latrun

8:15am – Rabbi Michael Klein Katz will meet you at breakfast to go over the Bar Mitzvah plans.

Hike at Ein Gedi - Ein Gedi Nature Reserve is home to beautiful hot springs, a variety of plans, and wildlife.

On to your hotel to experience the Dead Sea and the hotel's facilities.

Overnight at Ganim Dead Sea

Overnight:Ein Bokek, Dead Sea

Day

9

Friday, June 29, 2018

Bedouin visit, Sde Boker, Ein Avdat

Depart for the South.

11:00am Stop at Kfar Hanokdim for camel ride and Bedouin Hospitality

Sde Boker - Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion resigned from office in 1953 and moved to the Sde Boker where he lived the rest of his life even after returning to politics. He believed that eventually the Negev would be home to many Jews who would move to Israel after having made Aliyah, and he felt that Sde-Boker was an example for what should follow.

Ein Avdat - Enjoy the water springs at the narrow canyon at Ein Avdat.

9:30pm - Stargazing this evening with Ira Machefsky.

Spend the night at Ramon Inn.

Overnight:Mitzpe Ramon

Day

10

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Jeep tour, hiking, Alpaca and llama farm

9:30 am - Jeep tour at the crater.

The balance of the day can be spent hiking, repelling, and visiting the alpaca and llama farm.

Overnight - Ramon Inn at the Ramon Crater

Overnight:Mitzpe Ramon

Day

11

Sunday, July 01, 2018

Beersheva National park

Morning at leisure

Late morning departure.

Visit Beersheva National park or Karaso Science Park .

Stop for dinner on the way to the airport.

Late night departure for home.

Day 1 - Sunday, August 16

Departure from the US

Depart the US on your flight to Israel on El Al Flight 28 departing at 1:30PM from Newark Airport

Overnight: En Route

Day 2 - Monday, August 17

Welcome to Israel

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport at 7:00am. Upon arrival, we will meet our guide and begin our journey through amazing Israel!

Drive to Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve responsible for preserving local Israeli agriculture and landscapes. We may herd sheep and make pita bread!

Continue to Jerusalem for a Shehecheyanu at Mt Scopus.

Relax upon checking in to our hotel and an arrival dinner at the fabulous Olive and Fish Restaurant which is right across the street.

Overnight: Inbal, Jerusalem

Day 3 - Tuesday, August 18

Old City

Rampart Walk on top of the old city’s walls. From here you can enjoy a scenic panorama of the walls and the Old City. Explore the Jewish Quarter, the main residential area for Jews in the Old City of Jerusalem

Continue to the Davidson Centerat the Southern Wall Archaeological Gardens and enjoy a modern, kid-friendly, interactive virtual presentation. Through the films and exhibits, the Visitor’s Center explains the archaeology of Jerusalem covering the First and Second Temple, Byzantine, Islamic and Crusader periods.

Enjoy the mesmerizing Sound and Light Show at the Citadel Museum. The show depicts Jerusalem’s history through music and the most colorful pictures cast on walls of the museum. Make sure to bring a jacket!

Overnight: Inbal, Jerusalem

Day 4 - Wednesday, August 19

Massada and Dead Sea

Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Massada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans in 73 AD. Descend by cable car, time and weather permitting, an opportunity will be provided to enjoy a Lunch and Swim at a Mineral Beach.

Hike in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve home to beautiful hot springs, fascinating plants and wildlife along with great hiking trails.

On your way back to Jerusalem stop at Genesis Land for some of Abraham’s hospitality and a camel ride.

Meet the Rabbi for the Bar Mitzvah rehearsal. Continue to the hotel for a relaxing evening and dinner.

Overnight: Inbal, Jerusalem

Day 5 - Thursday, August 20

Bar Mitzvah Day

Enjoy your incredible Bar Mitzvah day at Ezrat Israel! Continue with an incredible Kiddush at the Southern Wall in the Old City.

Visit the Western Wall Tunnels and the Kotel and the Jewish Quarter

In the City of David (Ir David), explore the recently excavated fortresses and passageways. Here you can relive King David’s conquest of the Jebusite city. Visit the Hezekiah Tunnels. These tunnels were dug underneath the city as an aqueduct to provide water during an impending siege by the Assyrians. They date back as far as the 8th century B.C.

Enjoy dinner a Gala Bnai Mitzvot dinner at Picolino Restaurant.

Overnight: Inbal, Jerusalem

Day 6 - Friday, August 21

Jerusalem

Begin the day with a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum where you can walk through the Children’s Pavilion, visit the museum, and explore the Avenue of the Righteous. (Children under 10 years of age will be taken to another site as they are not allowed in Yad Vashem).

Continue to the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, famous for its collection of wildlife featured in the Torah.

Explore Machane Yehuda, the largest and busiest outdoor market in all of Israel. Buy all sorts of fresh fruit and vegetables and experience the excitement as everyone prepares for Shabbat.

Have a Shabbat of a Lifetime experience at a local home including Shabbat dinner and home hospitality.

Overnight: Inbal, Jerusalem

Day 7 - Saturday, August 22

Jerusalem

Morning you may want to go to early services

Late morning/early afternoon – Participate in a fun filled scavenger hunt Nachlaot is one of Jerusalem’s best-kept secrets, and on this tour game, you will discover this colorful, surprising and eclectic neighborhood. On your navigation adventure, you will get to know the pioneers of the early Jerusalem neighborhood, you will make your way through alleys with timeless charm and you will peek into the Machaneh Yehuda market – all this while engaging with the unique Nachlaot vibe.

Afternoon at leisure

Overnight: Inbal, Jerusalem

Day 8 - Sunday, August 23

North of Israel

Head north via the Jordan Valley to the Golan Heights, and learn about its strategic significance to Israel.

Have an exciting tour of the Golan by ATV at Merom to get the lay of the local land.

Stop by Mt. Bental, overlooking the Golan and nearby Mt. Hermon.

Continue to a delicious chocolate factory and indulge in the Golan’s favorite culinary offerings!

Visit Kesem Hagolan, the Golan Visitors center that boasts a movie theatre, a large model of the Golan that explains the area, as well as a famous brewery.

Overnight: Kibbutz Kfar Blum including dinner

Day 9 - Monday, August 24

Safed

Begin the day in Safed, an orthodox community and the center of Jewish mysticism (kabala), where you will visit the Joseph Caro and Ha’ Ari synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city and stroll down the famous Artists quarter. Meet local soldiers to get a feel for the diverse Safed community.

Enjoy an afternoon of rafting on the Jordan River, and continue to explore the Hulu Valley Nature Reserve.

Overnight: Kibbutz Kfar Blum including dinner

Day 11 - Wednesday, August 26

Tel Aviv

Begin the day at the Palmach Museum. The aim of the museum is to give a sense of the period, which led to the founding of the State of Israel. Appropriately, the main exhibit takes place underground in a series of chambers. Remarkably realistic sets, sounds, lighting, special effects and even moving rooms, make the visitor feel part of this extraordinary experience.

Visit the Ayalon Institute (Bullet Factory). In 1945, the Haganah determined that at the end of the British Mandate a struggle would ensue between the Jews and Arabs of the land. A decision was made by the Haganah to establish a secret plant. In just three weeks, preparations for the factory were completed and it was code named the Ayalon Institute, a military industry factory in the early pre-state days.

Overnight: Carlton, Tel Aviv

Day 12 - Thursday, August 27

Tel Aviv

Enjoy a morning archeological dig at Tel Maresh, a historical site near Tel Aviv.

Continue to Latrun, the site of many famous military battles. A memorial museum now stands in its place. Explore the history of the Israeli Defense Force at the Yad Lashiryon Corps Museum where you will enjoy the rich history of Israel’s famous military forces.

Your rooms are held until 6pm.

End the evening with a farewell dinner at the festive Maganda Restaurant and transfer to the airport for departure.

Day 13 - Friday, August 28

Departure from Israel

Departure via El Al 027 at 1230am arriving back into Newark at 5:40am this morning.